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Tips For Finding Success As A Freelance Worker

Working as a freelance worker has many perks, and it is easy to see why so many moms are starting to do this. Freelance work puts you in complete control so that you are your own boss, which can provide great flexibility with your work, which is ideal when you have kids. Although there many advantages to this, freelance work as has a few unique hurdles which can be challenging to overcome, especially when you first start out. It can be helpful to know what these challenges are and how you can easily overcome them so that you can enjoy all of the perks that freelance work brings. Here are a few tips:

Establish A Clear Routine

One of the major perks of being a freelance worker is that you can set up your own work schedule. This can also create a problem though, as you must have self-discipline and motivation to work each day. You can make this easier by setting a clear working routine for yourself – in addition to ensuring that you get work completed each day, this also means that people that you are working with/for know what they are able to get in touch with you.

Keep Work & Personal Life Separate

Leading on from this, it is easy for your work and personal life to merge when you are freelance especially when you work from home. This is problematic as the two must be kept separate if you are to find success at work and enjoy your home life. You can keep the two separate by creating an area that is just for work, by being firm with friends/family who want to meet up during the working day and by having a clear start and finish time each day.

Treat Your Work Like A Business

In order to find success as any kind of freelance worker, you will need to treat your work like a business even if you are the only person. This means that you need to have a website for your services which contains detailed information, a portfolio, client quotes, contact details etc. You should also always be professional in any communication and network at every opportunity to raise awareness about your services and land new work.

Know How To Market Yourself

Following on from this, as a freelance worker, you must also know how to market yourself in order to find work. This means being confident and proactive when it comes to approaching potential clients as well as having a portfolio that you can show to people. You must also have thick skin as it can be highly competitive and finding ongoing work can be challenging.

Use Contracts

It is unfortunate, but you hear many stories of people not getting paid for their work either after a disagreement or if a client simply ceases communication. A contract which outlines terms that both you and the client agree upon will protect both of you and help to clarify what is expected.

Carefully Track Finances

One of the biggest challenges that people find when they start working freelance is tracking their finances. While this can be daunting, it is also vital as this is how you find ways to maximize profit and it is also essential when it comes to filling in your tax return. Fortunately, there are lots of handy tools which can be used to track income and outgoings so that you can keep accurate books while focusing on your work.

Use Online Invoicing Tools

Similarly, you need to find a suitable way to invoice your clients, and this can be another area where people struggle initially. You can easily create a free invoice online, which looks professional and clearly details each item which can help you to stay organized and avoid any invoice discrepancies with clients.

Have A Rainy Day Fund/Backup Work

By nature, freelance work can be inconsistent which can understandably cause a great deal of stress and put a strain on your finances. Therefore, it is a good idea to save up a rainy day fund which can cover you for any periods where you do not have any work. Alternatively, you could have part-time work, which can provide a stable income even if you do not have any freelance work coming in.

Freelance workers are on the rise, and it is easy to see why so many moms are opting for this type of work. While there are many perks, it can also be challenging, which it is helpful to be aware of the above information when starting out.